As the current Congress comes to a close, here are three bills that Preservation Action is urging lawmakers to pass in the final days of the session. While not an exhaustive list, these three bills have significant bipartisan support and could move as part of a larger year-end package.

Historic Tax Credit Growth and Opportunity Act

The Historic Tax Credit Growth and Opportunity Act (H.R. 2294, S. 2266), would make several important changes to improve and enhance the HTC, including permanently increasing the credit to 30% for projects under $2.5 million and make it easier to use for smaller projects. The bill has strong, bipartisan support, with a record 103 cosponsors in the House and 15 cosponsors in the Senate. As Congress has reached an agreement on framework for a year end omnibus bill, there could be an opportunity to include a package of expiring tax provisions, which could open the door to include community development provisions like the Historic Tax Credit.

If they haven't already, reach out to your Representatives and Senators and urge them to cosponsor the HTC-GO Act and encourage your members to look for opportunities to include improvements to the Historic Tax Credit in year end legislation. Take action!

African American Burial Grounds Preservation Act

The African American Burial Grounds Preservation Act (S. 3667/H.R. 6805) would authorize the National Park Service to establish a $3 million grant program to identify and protect African American Burial Grounds. The protection and documentation of African American Burials Grounds have long been neglected, and a comprehensive, streamlined, and clear strategy is needed to preserve these sites. This week the bill was added to the Senate legislative calendar.

Urge your members of congress to cosponsor and support the African American Burial Grounds Preservation Act today! Take action!

National Heritage Area Act

The National Heritage Area Act of 2021 (S. 1942, H.R. 1316) would create a much-needed uniform system to reauthorize National Heritage Areas, allocate standard funding, and provide universal standards to how current and future National Heritage Areas (NHAs) are managed and designated. This bill has strong bipartisan support and was added to the Senate Calendar for the current legislative session.

Urge your Representative and Senators to support the National Heritage Area Act and include it as part of any omnibus package. Check out the Alliance of National Heritage Areas to learn more about National Heritage Areas and this important bill. Learn more!

This week appropriators announced that they have reached an agreement on top-line spending numbers for a year end omnibus bill. As a result Congress approved a one week continuing resolution, extending current funding levels to Dec. 23rd. This clears the way for lawmakers to finalize and pass an omnibus package. Congress could release a draft of the omnibus package, including funding levels for the Historic Preservation Fund and other preservation priorities, by early next week.

Preservation Action is urging lawmakers to support $191 million for the Historic Preservation Fund, the same level outlined in the Senate Chairman's markup, as part of the omnibus package. This funding would include much needed increases for State and Tribal Historic Preservation Offices and important grant programs, many of which are helping to tell a more inclusive American story.

Preservation Action will follow the appropriations process as the current Congress comes to a close and continue to urge Congress to support robust funding for historic preservation priorities.

The Senate passed the Safeguard Tribal Objects of Patrimony or STOP Act (H.R. 2930, S. 1471) by unanimous consent. Having already passed the House last year, the bill now heads to President Biden's desk where he is expected to sign it.

This bipartisan legislation, led by Rep. Teresa Leger Fernández (D-NM ) in the House and Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-NM) in the Senate, will help protect Native American cultural items by strengthening laws to prevent trafficking. The bill prohibits the export of sacred cultural items that were obtained illegally in the United States. This bill also increases the penalties for stealing and trafficking tribal cultural patrimony, and establishes a statutory mechanism to repatriate illegally exported items.

Preservation Action fully supports this bill and are excited to see it get across the finish line. Thank you to everyone that reached out to their members of Congress.

National Trust for Historic Preservation: "Places Restored, Threatened, Saved and Lost in Preservation Magazine's Fall 2022 Issue"

USA Today: " A National Park Could Be Key to Preserving Emett Till's Memory, Legacy Advocates Say"

New Jersey: "Governor Murphy Announces $25 Million Investment Into New Jersey's Historic Sites"

Texas: "Preservation Texas Announces Texas Rural African American Heritage Grant Recipients"

Georgia: "Historic Preservation Tax Helping Macon Bring in New Businesses, Restore Old Buildings"